The Last Person ‘Today’ Host Hoda Kotb, 58, Saw Before Having Breast Cancer Surgery? Her Loving Mother: The Comfort She Finds in Her Mom

Thankfully, Hoda could count on her mother’s support through it all.

During a recent episode of the morning show, Hoda recalled her mother Sameha Kotb being one of the last people she saw before being wheeled into surgery for her double mastectomy – the surgical removal of both breasts.

“I remember the doctor looked at my mom, who was terrified, and she said, ‘Miss Kotb, I’m gonna take care of your little girl and bring her home,’” Hoda said.

And they definitely did.

Hoda Kotb Remembers Another Touching Moment With Her Mother

Hoda Kotb has never been shy about sharing the huge impact Sameha Kotb has had on her life. In 2016, she lovingly described her with a simple and touching phrase: an “always.”

“I think everyone needs an ‘always,'” she explained. “Someone who you look up and you say, no matter where I am, no matter what I’m going through, no matter what I’m doing, I’ll look up, and there they’ll be.”

Can I Have A Baby After Breast Cancer?

During the recent “Today” episode, Hoda reflected on having her mother’s support during her adoption of Haley, 6, and Hope, 4, after breast cancer caused fertility struggles.

“I remember when I placed Haley in my mom’s arms, and I thought to myself, who would have ever thought that could happen?” Hoda said, through tears. “From that moment there in the hospital to this moment, watching my mom hold my children. It’s like, God is good.”

Today, Hoda’s girls refer to Sameha as Tata – the informal word for grandma in Lebanese Arabic. And the connection between grandmother and granddaughters has only grown.

“She loves her grandkids and they love her beyond,” Hoda said.

Support During a Cancer Journey

Support during a cancer journey, like Hoda Kotb had from her mom, is crucial – and not just for your mental health.

“Studies have found consistently that loneliness is a significant risk factor for physical and mental illnesses and the trajectory of recovery,” licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin wrote in a column for SurvivorNet.

“Therefore, it will be important that you surround yourself with individuals who care and support you throughout your treatment.”

It’s wonderful to find comfort in family and friends, but sometimes people need to look outside of their normal circles of support during a cancer.

For ovarian cancer survivor Ni Guttenfelder, therapy proved to be exactly what she needed. Though it did take some time to match with the right counselor.

Ovarian Cancer Survivor Stresses the Importance of Finding the Right Counselor to Support You Through Your Journey

“Initially I went to a session where I just cried and the counselor basically told me what I was feeling was normal and didn’t offer me any type of feedback. But I knew that I needed something more than that. Not just a crying session and a pat on my shoulder,” she said.

“What I have found is that it’s critical to find the right counselor, not just any counselor.”

Once she found a counselor she could really open up to, Guttenfelder started to see some clarity.

“One of the things that my counselor has taught me from the very beginning that has helped me is the concept of acceptance,” she said.

“Acceptance is a process. It’s like downloading a computer file in increments. Visualizing it in that way has really helped me.”

Beyond family, friends and therapy, support groups, social media and community groups such as church groups or athletic teams can all be great places to combat loneliness during a cancer battle.

No matter what you decide to do, consider opening up to at least some people. You never know how much it could help you, or those around you, unless you try.

Finding Support Through Her Church — Ovarian Cancer Survivor Robyn Smith’s Story

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